Swimming device



Apk. 24, 1923.

w. F. cLAuPlN SWIMMING DEVICE' Filed March 1'7, 19722 W T7 a w M M Md Patented Apr. 24, 1923.

UNITED STATES WILHELM F. CLAUPIN, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS.

SWIMMING DEVICE.

Application led March 17, 1922.

To aZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILHELM F. CLAU- PIN, a citizen of Germany, residing at Attleboro, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Swimming Devices, of which the following is a specification.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a simple, practical device to f-acilitate swimming, that can be manufactured at comparatively small cost.

Another object is the provision of means for attachingto a special sandal, a pair of hinged plates, adapted to open and close according to -the direction of motion thru the water. f

A further object is the means employed for increasing buoyancy of the plates, which tending to elevate the limb, offers great assistance to the swimmer.

These and other like objects are attained by the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a ma.- terial part of this disclosure, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device made in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the hinged plates.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view showing the position of the plates acting agalnst the resistance of the water.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the position of the plates in reverse or upward motion.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the plate details.

Figure 6 is a modification of the device, showing cork strips inserted in the plates.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of the same taken on line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 10 represents a foot resting on a foot board 11, and there secured by suitable sandal straps 12.

Hingedly engaged with the foot board 11, are a pair of relatively thin oblong plates 14 and 15, provided on their inner edges with spring notches 16 and I bolt notches 17.

Strap hinge elements 18 and 19 are securedfto the plates 14 and 15 in such manner as to provide a narrow openlng 2O therebetween.

Serial No. 544,435.

A continuous hinge pin 21 extends from hinge to hinge, and is encircled by a coiled spring 22 having tangential terminal ends 23 and 24, engaging'the plates, tensionally urging them into the open position shown in Figure 3.

Eye bolts 25 engage the hinge pin 21 and the bolt portions extending upward thru the plate notches 17 are screw-threaded into the foot board 11.

W'hen the device is secured in operative position on a swimmers foot, the plates are maintained in position as shown in Figure 3, by the torsion of the spring 22, which p0- sition allows the wearer to easily walk about and also provides a surface the area of which presents to the water a resistance much greater than the human foot.

As the limbs are drawn upward the plates 14 .and 15 fold together, as in Figure 4, due to the resistance of the water acting upon the upper sides of the plates and against the tension of the spring 22.

Simultaneously with a backward movement of the limbs, the pressure of the water against the bevelled outer edges 26 and 27 forces the plates apart and back into the normal extended position without causing added physical effort to the swimmer.

In the modification shown in Figures 6 and 7, the plates are provided with longitudinal dove-tailed grooves into which are secured strips of cork 28 and 29, adding an element of buoyancy calculated to assist the swimmer in keeping the body in a level lane.

Although the foregoingis descriptive of the preferred form of the invention, it will be apparent that minor changes may be made in its construction without the exercise Lof invention or conflicting with the scope of the invention as defined by the claim hereto appended.

Having' thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A swimming device, comprising a pair of articulated plates hinged to sandal members, said plates being adapted to open and close according to the direction of motion, and

strips of buoyant material embedded longitudinally in each plate.

In witness whereof I -aix my signature.

WILHELM F. CLAUPIN. 

